Addis Ababa is not only the capital city of Africa but also a seat of international organizations such as the Organization of African Union (OAU) and United Nation’s Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) that is under the United Nations, among others. As such, Addis has managed to get itself in the short list of great diplomatic cities next to New York and Geneva.
Though there are many reasons ascribable for the aforementioned preference Addis enjoyed, prominent from the list is the cordiality of its people. Inhabitants of Addis, as it is true of citizens elsewhere in the country, are hospitable in a peculiar way as they accord guests special treatment.
Owing to the abovementioned virtues, before the COVID-19 Pandemic, Addis was a sought-after city for a multitude of international conferences of great interest. It discharged entrusted duties efficiently. Even during the pandemic exercising caution it had hosted some conferences of lesser magnitude.
Currently, establishing a national committee that sees to the successful conduct of the forth coming 37th AU’s head of States Summit and 47 Ordinary Meeting of Executives to be held from Feb 15 to 19, Ethiopia is bracing up to live up to expectations.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Sport and Culture have just deliberated with hotel and tourism service- rendering organizations on ways of delivering topnotch services. Nowadays, modernization is taking effect at a fabulous rate. To stand shoulder high in the red-hot global competition, sticking out in quality is obligatory. Otherwise, a meltdown is what greets vying bodies. Hence, to go ahead striking a balance between customers’ demand and quality service, which is commensurate with the former, is essential.
To ensure the all-rounded comfort of summit participants not only the active role of stakeholders is needed but also the usual cooperation of every citizen. In case of traffic jamming, residents of Addis must demonstrate again preferential treatment to guests.
Efforts are underway to turn Addis Ababa, which literary means a new flower, beautiful true to its name. It is becoming tourists-destination gem as never before. Tourism-oriented projects are afoot. Inviting participants to visit the projects prolonging their stay thereby to generate much-needed hard currency is possible. These amounts to killing two birds with stone — letting guests have a comfy and memorable stay as well as generating additional foreign currency.
At this juncture it is important to note that, it is fatuous not to assume there will not be quarters that attend Addis’ ever glowing diplomatic city image with a raised brow. To foil evil intents, hotels and other service delivering institutions must handle tasks taking into account a hallmark of hospitality and tourism is the image of tranquil and resilient Ethiopia. Rolling sleeves to this effect is mandatory.
Based on feedbacks, a major complaint during previous meeting was the gap between exorbitant prices and contenting services. To do away with this problem, asking the right price for the right service must be made a point.
The tourism infrastructural facilities expansion work like Koysha, Wonchi, Gorgora and Chaka need be visited by guests. Carrying out promotional works in advance so that these facilities get well visited by guests is wise.
Keeping its time-old culture of cordiality intact and flexing its service-delivery muscle, Ethiopia is eagerly looking forward welcoming its esteemed guests, whom await service insulated from any form of hustle. Guests must be rest assured on this score.
Coming to Ethiopia is tantamount to coming home, for Ethiopia is home-away-from-home as many agree.
Here, as a backdrop, it is important to reflect that currently Ethiopia is fully back on world diplomatic stage, unlike the past years Ethiopia’s relationship with almost all countries is picking up steam, Ethiopia has joined BRICS setting the tone for Africa, Ethiopia has anchor role in IGAD as exemplified by its peace-brokering role in Sudan and east Africa, Ethiopia has become trendsetter in global interactions, Ethiopia pushes green legacy for deliberation on the global arena, Ethiopia demands Africa’s representation in UN’s security Council, Ethiopia has played quite a role for Africa to get a seat in G20,Ethiopia has become a standard bearer birthing GERD key for regional industrialization.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 24 DECEMBER 2023
